Rumour of new striker

A Simon Church who is on trial

I wonder if it this one

Twelve months ago Simon Church was enjoying the high point of his football career, a member of the Wales squad that defied the odds to reach the Euro 2016 semi-finals.

The adventure seemed set to continue with a move to join Dutch Eredivisie side Roda JC Kerkrade.

But just four games into the campaign Church suffered a serious hip injury that wrecked his season.

The contrast of fortune could not have been more stark, as Church endured surgery followed by a lengthy rehabilitation.

"It's been a frustrating season for me off the back of last summer," said the 28-year-old.

"I had the opportunity to play in a different country, a different league and then four games in I had to have hip surgery.

"That ruined everything, ruined my plans... it was really, really frustrating.

"It's something [the hip problem] I've had over the years but I've never missed a day of training or a match through it.

"It's been niggling away in the background but I've always managed to get a hold of it to stop it getting in the way.

"But as soon as I went to Roda I didn't realise they played on astroturf and near enough half the teams [in the Dutch Eredivisie] play on astroturf.

"We were training in an artificial pitch every day and I think that was the main reason why, my hip couldn't really handle the impact of it.

"I remember playing against Feyenoord and after taking a shot I was in so much pain I couldn't carry on."

Scans confirmed the severity of the injury and surgery was followed by 10 weeks on crutches.

Roda allowed Church to stay home for three months to convalesce, before he returned to the Dutch club last January to continue his rehabilitation.

But with his one-year contract due to expire and Roda in the midst of a troubled takeover involving financier Aleksei Korotaev, Church left the club two weeks ago.

"It was was my decision to stop it prematurely because I'd worked so hard to get back as soon as I can... and be ready for the new season," Church said.

"I knew there's a lot of things going on at the club as well with the new owner, new manager, new staff and I knew straight away it wasn't something that I was going to be doing next year.

"We agreed to go our separate ways before the end of the season and I've managed to keep my fitness up, working hard and getting myself ready for whatever opportunity comes up next."

Church began his career at Reading, before signing for Charlton Athletic in 2013 and then MK Dons two years later, but was unable to command a regular first-team place.

The striker went on loan at the end of the 2015-16 season to Aberdeen, flourishing in the Scottish Premiership with nearly a goal every other game - the type of form that helped cement his place in the Wales squad for the Euro 2016 finals.

"The back of last season I went to Aberdeen, really had a good time and scored a lot of goals," Church said.

"Then in the summer was just amazing - to play in the semi-finals of the Euros was a dream come true.

"I want more of the same feeling and action from last summer, and I want to get back to playing at the top level."
Vokes hoping to win 50th Wales cap in ‘huge match’

Now Church, back to fitness, is eager to recommence his playing career and says there is good interest from clubs for his signature.

"There's a lot of talks going on with clubs... so I'm just keeping tight, keeping focused on staying fit," he added.

"We've had interest from back in England, which is nice, but also ever since I made the move abroad a lot more options have come up all over the place.

"But we need to sit down; I've got a young family so we need to figure out what's going to be the best for them, and what's going to be the best opportunity for me in my career.

"I'm 28 now so I need to get back to what I was doing. The last five years haven't gone as well as I'd planned, so we really need to make sure the next move is the right one.

"The clubs know I'm a free agent now, I'm feeling fit, I know I can play at Championship level. I haven't played in League One since I was 18 or 19 on loan a couple of times.

Hi goalscoring record in recent years is woeful so he should fit in nicely.

Sounds right up our street woeful scoring record & a long term dodgy hip..lol

Keep scraping the bottoms of those barrels Delboy

Nadir Ciftci out with back injury

100 starts in the CCC, good, injury record, bad, goal scoring record, sparce, should fit right in, who needs goals?

Coming together nicely.

Bloody hell hes gotta be knocking 33 now aint he ? was kinda decent as a kid wasn't he ?

To put this in balance I think if we had signed Church to slot in behind two young guns with lots of potential it could have been seen as a good signing, experienced, played at a higher level and with a decent pass on him by all accounts. What he is not is the answer to our goal drought. I feel a bit sorry for the boy really as he's picking up the ire that should be directed in Brent's direction for now allowing enough budget to sign some quality in the summer ie the two young guns with potential.

We can't possibly compete with the big boys of league 1 like Scunthorpe and their 4000 attendances

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From the posts above he wasn't the answer so the fact he isn't signing should make some of you happy!
Ebanks anyone?

Hugh Watt wrote:

We can't possibly compete with the big boys of league 1 like Scunthorpe and their 4000 attendances

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Good to see Jimmy backing the manager again.

tigertony wrote:

From the posts above he wasn't the answer so the fact he isn't signing should make some of you happy!
Ebanks anyone?

Slightly missing the point there

Pre Brentmare, pre grateful to be shit, Pre not being big enough for the third division, very few players would have turned down argo for the delights of Scunthorpe.

Desperate free agent signings aren't going to stop the rot. That sort of player that can turn ships around just isn't out there contract free, fit as a fiddle, and in Brent's budget. A side show to tell us all how committed everyone is to the cause.
The problem is a whole squad of mainly L2 standard guys playing in the wrong way under a manager that isn't, as yet, willing to try anything different. The concentration on the owner's building desires outside the stadium, not connected to the club, can't be helping. Only a couple of out of the blue Carey moments have kept a complete implosion at bay. Expect the bobbing along at rock bottom to continue. Can't imagine what can be done in January either, given the Brent budget.

Gotta say I was pleasantly surprised with the ex-Leeds fella on Saturday. Okay, he was blowing out of his arse from about 20 mins onwards, but he simply had the sort of presence that is totally devoid in our midfield at the minute. Sarcevic won’t be missed one bit, and Jamie Ness is just, well, properly crap. A 30% fit Diagouraga is head and shoulders above the pair of them.

Personal circumstances sometimes mean players end up out on a limb more than we all would think, I guess. Roobs situation and where he’s ended up is a prime example. Hopefully this geezer can get fitter and continue to impose himself on games.

Czarcasm wrote:

Gotta say I was pleasantly surprised with the ex-Leeds fella on Saturday. Okay, he was blowing out of his arse from about 20 mins onwards, but he simply had the sort of presence that is totally devoid in our midfield at the minute. Sarcevic won’t be missed one bit, and Jamie Ness is just, well, properly crap. A 30% fit Diagouraga is head and shoulders above the pair of them.

Personal circumstances sometimes mean players end up out on a limb more than we all would think, I guess. Roobs situation and where he’s ended up is a prime example. Hopefully this geezer can get fitter and continue to impose himself on games.

Reminded me a bit of a Nalis type situation, brought some authority and experience that maybe others can draw from. Different sort of player but same effect hopefully.

Pompey fan I know was well hacked off they didn't sign him.

Brian has just blown in. He'll do a job.